RAMANATHAPURAM
The ‘raid’ by Income Tax officials on the production house of actor Vishal on Monday was aimed at threatening actor Vijay, who was at the centre of controversy for his criticism against digital economy and Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in his latest film Mersal, Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman has said.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday after the additional sessions court acquitted him and director Ameer in a sedition case, he said the ‘IT raid’ showed that the BJP-led government at the Centre believed in silencing its critics and the dissent voice by either ordering IT raids or by slapping sedition charges.
Mr. Seeman dared the BJP leaders to take on the World Bank, which blamed the demonetisation move for India’s sluggish growth rate, former Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who lashed out at Finance Minister Arun Jaitely for making a mess of the economy and Revenue Secretary Hashmukh Adhia, who called for some rejig in the GST rate structure.
He said former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan said he was against demonetisation, eminent lawyer and Ram Jethmalani apologised for seeking votes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and traders’ bodies blamed the GST rate structure for negative growth. “Why not the BJP leaders fight against these big shots instead of threatening a film star,” he asked.
Mr. Seeman and Mr. Ameer said it was disgusting that those who talked about the content of Mersal remained silent on Kannada ‘chauvinists’ stopping the screening of the film in Karanataka. The Kannadigas had every right not to watch the film but had no right to restrain millions of Tamils living in the State from watching the movie and attack cinema houses.
On the outbreak of dengue, Mr. Seeman blamed the State government for failing to maintain storm water drains, drainages and properly implement solid waste management. If the officials fined private schools and industries for harbouring mosquito breeding, who should fine the government for failing to prevent mosquito breeding, he asked.